News and Articles on Health

Allergies cause various disorders including eczema, asthma, psoriasis, hay fever and many other common disorders. You can identify your allergy symptoms quickly, if you can find the allergens you’re allergic to. Way of living really banks on how faster you are able to diagnose, since the faster you diagnose the sooner you take action to remove the foreign invaders.

Here are a couple of tactics to cut back and treat your common allergies:

The real key to treating allergies is identifying the allergen and that it’s an allergy and not sensitivity or other common reasons. Once identified it’s an allergy seeking medical help to cure and prevent the same in future is very important. Leaving an allergic condition untreated could be fatal at times. Proper care and prevention are the keys to a healthy and allergy free life.

Food intolerance symptoms can be many and varied depending on your level of intolerance, type of food intolerance and general health.

On a personal level, I suffered from food intolerance symptoms and then had to assist one of my own children who had major food problems due to leaky gut syndrome.

My son was only two and a half when I realized that something was not right due to his behavior and toileting issues. The good news is that we did find a solution and he is now able to eat nearly any food we give him. He still suffers from some wheat problems but we tend to use Kamut or Egyptian Gold flour based products. This seems to fair even better than Spelt flour.

If you think you may be suffering from food problems then take a look at this list.

Some symptoms include:
• Asthma
• Head aches
• Tiredness / lethargy
• Skin rashes
• Heart Palpitations
• Speech problems
• Bed wetting
• Unable to concentrate
• Ear infections
• Ear aches
• ADD
• ADHD
• Irritable bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Irritable
• Moody
• Oppositional defiance
• Stubborn
• Silly noises
• hyperactive
• General feeling of being unwell.

This list is by no means exhaustive. Food reactions can be brought on within an hour or can show up a couple of days later and this can depend on your level of food intolerance, how much you have eaten of those things that are causing your food intolerance symptoms and your lifestyle.

Many food problems are a result of naturally occurring chemicals in foods. To explain further, food is composed of many naturally occurring compounds. Three that can cause major problems for some people are Salicylates, Amines and MSG – Mono Sodium Glutamate. Everyone has a threshold and your level of food intolerance is based partly on that threshold. To give you an example, I had a problem with amines for a while. So, if I ate something high in amine such as grapes and then continued to eat other foods high in amine content, I would start to experience food intolerance symptoms. Some people will have a higher threshold with amines and salicylates so would not experience the same reaction as someone with a lower threshold.

Food problems are the body’s way of telling you it needs healing. Conducting a food elimination diet is a good way to recognize where your food problems stem from, among other steps you can take. There are a number of great resources that we have identified and used that can assist with recovering from food problems.

Allergies are nothing more than our immune system kicking into high gear. It is one of our body’s methods for fighting against incoming “foreign” offenders. So when one of the allergens hit, our defense mechanisms reacts to take care of it. Allergy might be brought on by several types of irritants which range from pollen to dust. Only a few commonly cause allergic symptoms.

For example, consider pollen. A natural substance produced by budding plants, flowers and trees. For some it appears to be a heart-warming sight, on the other hand for others it causes unwelcome symptoms, which include:

1. Redness, Itching or Watery eyes
2. Sneezing
3. Persistent Running Nose
4. Sinus Congestion
5. Respiratory problems including Asthma or Wheezing
6. Coughing
7. Hives
8. Hay fever
9. Nausea, or Vomiting

At times allergies causes life-threatening anaphylactic reaction.

Anaphylaxis: It is the most severe reaction, a person can have when exposed to substances they are allergic to. A typical anaphylaxis response is so serious, that it even may result in death. If you are unaware of it, you might be putting your life under risk! It’s better to learn what anaphylaxis is and how to address it.

Anaphylaxis -Tough word, tough symptoms. It is a severe reaction to a common allergen.

This reaction may go along with throat constriction, swelling, and an inability to swallow or breathe and shock.
Normally it affects only a small percentage of the population that is consistently re-exposed to allergens. They are highly sensitive. Some other symptoms may include heart palpitations, low blood pressure and fluid in the lungs.

Some allergens are more likely to produce this type of reaction than others, including:It is one of the most severe reaction, a person can have when exposed to substances they’re allergic to. A typical anaphylaxis response is so serious, that it even may lead to death. If you’re unaware of it, you might be putting yourself under risk! It’s better to understand what anaphylaxis is and how to handle it.

Some allergens are more likely to produce this reaction than others, including:

1. Stings or bites from insects.
   Consumption of certain foods, including shellfish or peanuts.
   Use of medications including antibiotics or sulfa drugs in some patients.
   Exposure to latex, and
   Specific vaccines, which includes those that contain egg proteins.

Unless and until you’re taking a substance, (like a medication) you cannot realize that you’re hypersensitive to it. But the good thing is that, if you might take proper treatment and care, the symptoms of anaphylactic reaction could be reversed.

Many hospitals offer patients epinephrine and other medications, that will reduce inflammation. Knowing you’re super sensitive to a particular allergen, your physician may prescribe an “at-home” care kit which might include a pre-loaded dose of epinephrineyou can use in the event you are subjected to a known allergen and initiate an anti-anaphylactic reaction.
Using this home kit will stabilize you long enough to seek emergency care. Knowing you’re prone to having this severe reaction, you should wear a medical alert bracelet or inform those you deal with of your condition, to take proper precautions to shield yourself.

In case you use a home kit, you should still seek the care of your physician immediately following exposure, as symptoms often return even with treatment a few hours after your initial reaction.

People develop skin allergic reactions all the time; many of these people never really know the cause of their skin allergy until the visit a doctor. There are several factors that lead to a person having skin allergic reaction. It can be caused by food, a soap that they use or even dust. All of these are causes of a person to have skin allergies.

• The first cause of skin allergies is food.

How exactly do you know if a food is causing the skin reaction that you are experiencing? One simple way is through simple trial and error until you find the cause of your skin allergies. One example of this was a person that every time they ate shell fish they broke out into a skin rash. For a long time they thought this was caused by something else, until they went to the doctor and he told them what the cause of the problem was.

Skin allergic reactions are never a fun thing to live with, they can be a nuisance and sometimes even disrupt your daily life if they are severe enough. Now the skin allergies will differ from the amount of food that you ate as well as the severity of the allergy. Often times when a person eats a food that there is an allergy to they will develop hives on their skin. This is the most basic of skin allergies that a person will have when there is an allergy present.

One thing that you will need to keep in mind is that skin reactions can become worse if the person is stressed over the situation and as a result will breakout even worse than they did before. So it is important that when dealing with skin allergies that you don’t aggravate the area or stress yourself that much about the reaction.

There are other things that will cause a person to experience skin reactions. If you change the brand of soap that you use then you are bound to experience skin allergies that will tend to be a little on the mild to severe side. These skin reactions can be a problem that results in the person breaking out in hives and as a result will involve you either having to get a shot or other treatment option for the skin allergies that you are experiencing.

In some cases it is possible for skin allergies to be passed on from parent to child. While this is not as common as you might think, it does happen and can be a problem for both the parent as well as the child. If you think that you are experiencing skin reactions then the best method of treatment is to simply go to your doctor and have a talk to see if you are suffering from skin reactions or not. If you are not wanting to go to the doctor then you can always try to cut out certain things that you think are the cause. If the skin allergies stop then you have found the problem.

When you are sick, chances are that you’ll make an appointment to go to the doctor. Once there, your physician will give you an examination, determine your problem, and probably prescribe you medication meant to help you recover. Sadly, though, if you have a drug allergy, taking the medicine that you’re allergic to can result in a life-threatening or even deadly reaction.

Medications contain powerful drugs that work to help you fight infections and other such issues. Because everyone is different, some people react differently than others to the same drugs. Interestingly, people typically have an adverse reaction to a medication the second time they take a drug rather than the first. Thus, you may not even be aware that you have a drug allergy. However, once you do learn of your problem, it is important to always let your physician know about the allergy before he or she prescribes you a medicine that proves to be more harmful than helpful.

An allergic reaction occurs when the body’s immune system actually overreacts to a drug. Sometimes caused hypersensitivity, a person can develop this problem through things such as a longtime exposure to a drug, large doses of the chemical, intravenous injection, and a predilection to develop allergies.

There are “families” of drugs that all encompass one main component, basically an active ingredient.

Some drugs cause allergic reactions more commonly than others, including:

• Analgesics – codeine, morphine, NSAIDs, aspirin
• Antibiotics – sulfa, penicillin, tetracycline
• Antiseizures – phenytoin, carbamazepine

Even though you may not be having an allergic reaction to a topical medication, the skin often gives hints that a drug is not reacting well with your body. If you are having an allergic reaction to a drug, you may notice that you develop a rash, hives, sensitivity to sunlight, erythema multiforme. Erythema multiforme describes the condition of red, raised patches of skin which are often itchy and may occur with swelling of the face and/or tongue.

Internally, the overreaction of your immune system to a drug can cause the following:

• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Kidney inflammation
• Muscle/joint aches

Additionally, one very serious part of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock. This can happen gradually or quickly, but you must go to the emergency room to save yourself from the death that can occur as a result of anaphylactic shock.

Signs that you are going into anaphylaxis include hives, difficulty breathing, light-headedness, rapid heart beat or arrhythmia, and swelling of the face or extremities.

Sometimes, neither a doctor nor you can predict the way in which you will react to a medication. However, if a physician does not acknowledge a known allergen or does not handle your reaction properly, it can result in serious health issues and even death. If you or someone you know has had a medication prescribed improperly, this may count as medical malpractice. You should speak to a lawyer today about your options.

There are different types of cat allergy treatment available, but before addressing any treatment, we must first discuss what causes a cat allergy and what the symptoms are.

An allergic reaction to a cat is caused by the human body’s immune system mistaking cat hair & dander as a “dangerous substance”. The immune system is attempting to ward off these “dangerous substances”. This causes symptoms like that of hay fever.

• Symptoms

There are many different allergy symptoms, but they mostly depend on what type of cat allergy you are diagnosed with: cat hair, cat dander, cat flea, or cat skin allergy. Also, there are many different types of cat allergy treatment, so different symptoms require different treatments.

• Swollen and Watery Eyes

This is usually caused by tiny pieces of cat dust and dander traveling from the cat’s skin through the air and into your eyes. You will usually have itchy eyes and they will be red at times. You can get rid of the swelling and watery eyes by either removing the cat or by taking eye drops.

• Wheezing and Coughing

Just as in the cause of the itchy, watery, swollen eyes, cat dust and dander can travel through the air and be breathed in through the mouth. The muscles in the airways will contract in a reaction to the dander coming in contact with your airways, resulting in difficulty breathing, coughing, and wheezing.

• Excema

Sometimes cat dander will come in contact with the skin and cause itchy, red, dry sections. To remedy this, minimize scratching and moisturize the area.

Other symptoms include sneezing and running/stuffy nose.

• Treatments

A cat allergy treatment is available in pill form, so your doctor may be able to subscribe something if you have symptoms of cat allergy. Another cat allergy treatment is available in the form of antihistamine nasal sprays. However, these methods provide only temporary relief. Here are some tips to minimize your cat allergies:

1. Keep the cat out of certain rooms.
2. Keep the house well-ventilated.
3. Vacuum often.

By knowing what the symptoms and causes for you cat allergies are, it is much easier to identify treatments. By using the information in this article, you should be able to ease your allergies quite well.

All over the world, millions suffer from daily allergies, which negatively affect their overall health. The symptoms associated with allergies tend to peak during the spring and fall; however, those with acute allergies can be miserable throughout the year.

• Dander from animals

There are a lot of people who have one or more pets. People who suffer from allergies can have acute symptoms when they are in the proximity of pets. Particles of skin can be cast off by felines and canines, similarly to humans, but the flakes from cats and dog are oily, and it is known as dander. The proteins associated with pet dander can cause those with dander allergies to suffer from upper respiratory distress.

• Food

Most of the world’s population is thought to be allergic to one or more foods. Hundreds of different food items are associated with allergic responses. Often, foods that cause allergy symptoms are better tolerated as the sufferer ages. Those who have acute persistent allergic reactions, however, may suffer throughout life.

• Molds

Molds are all over the out-of-doors, so everyone has been exposed to those kinds that commonly occur since they were children. It can be worrisome for those with allergies, however, when molds become established indoors and thrive. Drip pans beneath refrigerators, the coil boxes in air conditioners, and insulated air plenums can provide a nourishing habitat for molds to flourish.

• Pollen

The underlying cause of most allergies that occur in the fall and spring is pollen. When different kinds of pollen are carried indoors by air currents, home allergies can result.

Allergies affect the health and well-being of millions of people worldwide on a daily basis. While allergy symptoms are generally worse during the fall and spring seasons, people with severe allergies may suffer year around.

We will discuss 10 primary causes of allergies in the home and methods you can use right now to control them or even eliminate them. Your indoor home environment is the one place you have control over and with the proper knowledge, a home can be your haven.

1. Animal dander. Many people have at least one family pet of some sort. However, dogs or cats can create havoc for allergy sufferers. Dogs and cats can shed skin flakes just like humans but their skin flakes actually have an oily component to it thus making it dander. In most cases, a person with a dander allergy is sensitive to the protein of the dander and can have upper respiratory symptoms when they breathe it in or even skin rashes when exposed to it.
2. Bacteria. Bacteria is everywhere in the indoor and outdoor environment but it is bacteria particles indoors which can causes a host of upper respiratory symptoms in a person with chronic allergies. The primary breeding ground for bacteria particles is a vacuum cleaner bag. Thousands of new bacteria particles can grow everyday in a vacuum cleaner bag. A standard vacuum with a low efficient paper bag will actually circulate these new bacteria particles into the air each time the vacuum is used.
3. Dust mites. Dust mites are most definitely in the top 3 of all allergens found in the home and are also a common cause of asthma symptoms in the home. They feed on human skin flakes as well as animal dander and produce microscopic fecal matter wherever they exist. Just as animal dander, an allergy sufferer is allergic to the protein found in the fecal matter and not the dust mites themselves.
4. Foods. It is believed that most people on earth have at least one food that they are allergic to. There are literally hundreds of foods which are known to cause allergic symptoms. Food allergies are known to change and will usually get better as we age. However, persons with severe chronic allergies can have them their entire lives.
5. Fragrances. Fragrances from pesticides and perfumes are the most common of these type of allergens. A fragrance is one of the few allergens which can actually create a reaction from just the odor itself.
6. Insect stings and dead insect parts. While most people know someone who is allergic to an insect sting; most persons do not know that breathing in dead insect parts may also cause allergic symptoms. If an insect dies indoors, it will dry out and turn to particle matter in a few weeks time. These insect particles can become airborne and breathed in by an allergy sufferer. Just as other organic allergens, the protein found in the particles is what actually causes allergy reactions.
7. Latex. Latex is a natural substance made from a type of rubber tree. A latex allergy is normally found in the healthcare workplace but can be found in the home with the use of latex based kitchen gloves. Eliminating a latex allergy is as simple as disposing of all latex based products found in the home.
8. Medications. Medication allergies are normally a synergistic effect between other pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drugs. A physicians desk reference or drug manufacturer instructions should be read completely prior to taking any medications. Sometimes interactions are found out following the printing of such instructions and manufacturer web sites should be consulted on a regular basis for new interactions.
9. Molds. We have all been exposed to common molds from childhood since they are found throughout the outdoor environment. They become a problem for allergy sufferers when they invade the indoor environment and amplify on a breeding ground. Common indoor breeding grounds are air conditioning coil boxes, internally insulated supply air plenums and refrigerator drip pans.
10. Pollen. Pollen are believed to be the number one allergen in the world and is the primary cause of seasonal allergies. Some pollens can create indoor allergies when they dry out into small particles and become airborne.

You can eliminate about half of the allergens discussed above by just discontinuing their use however; allergens which are in the form of airborne particles are not so easily controlled. A true H.E.P.A. (High Efficient Particle Air) vacuum cleaner or air purifier is the only scientifically proven devices known to reduce particle allergens from the indoor air. Regular use of H.E.P.A. devices can make a dramatic improvement in allergies while at home. The H.E.P.A. filter maintains its efficiency up to five years of life. I highly recommend that you consider only the highest quality units since there are many H.E.P.A. “type” and inexpensive low-quality H.E.P.A. products on the market.

Treating sinusitis naturally (and successfully) with homeopathy means you have given your immune system a much needed boost. It is only because you have a compromised immunity that you have sinusitis. By raising its level of efficiency, you should also notice other areas of improvement, particularly better or more balanced energy.

Sinusitis is medically described as an inflammation of the sinuses, which accompanies rhinitis (nasal discharge). Sinusitis can be painful if there is no way for the debris of the inflammatory process to drain away.

This can occur when your nose or sinuses become blocked.

If you have had this condition for an extended period of time and have received many treatments, then I suggest that the best way to permanently resolve it is by consulting with a professional homeopath. However, if you have not had it long and have not had much treatment for it, then you may be able to totally resolve it yourself, with some homeopathic home prescribing.

Silica is one of the common home prescribing medicines and one of its main focuses is on the ears, nose and throat.

As you will need to be able to match your symptoms to some of those of the right medicine, let’s look at the strong keynotes of Silica:

• nasal obstruction
• sinusitis with thick post nasal discharge
• acute or chronic ear infection, dizziness or noises in the ear
• tonsillitis, pharyngitis or enlarged throat glands
• generally worse in cold conditions
• recurring infections of any part including colds and the flu
• delayed development in children

Treating sinusitis naturally means you resolve more than you intended to.

There are probably as many natural hay fever treatments as there are people suffering with it. But at the core, the reason you suffer is that you have a lowered immunity.

Many people have little idea of what an immune system is because you can’t touch it. It isn’t tangible. Rather, it is only known by your ailments and how you manage them without any help.

Those people with high energy and no ailments, or ailments which are dealt with by an intense fever which is quickly over, have strong and healthy immunity. Those who have low energy and seem to catch everything around which lasts for days or weeks, have low immune systems.

The hay fever part simply means that this is your personal area of weakness. Or one of them.

So how can you raise your immunity?

Here, we are concerned with two important ways, although I’m sure there are many more.

By taking control of your health and looking after yourself. Here are some long term suggestions.

• Eat well (no processed food, limit dairy, cut back on animal protein, increase fruit and vegetables).
• Get out into the sun and into nature.
• Learn to relax. Take time out.
• Take regular exercise.
• Deal with stresses holistically, as they arise.

That’s all very well, but what about now? Isn’t there a way to quickly raise your immune system by using natural hay fever treatments? The good news is that there is. And it comes from homeopathic treatment.

Pulsatilla is a great homeopathic medicine that will bring your hay fever to a halt, as long as your symptoms agree.

Here are some of the common and strong symptoms of Pulsatilla type hay fever:

• with sneezing which is worse in a warm room, the sun or hot weather
• worse in the evening or, less commonly in the afternoon
• better in open air, especially cool, cool weather
• with chronic nasal obstruction especially right nostril

Other symptoms include a general lack of thirst – you’re always being told to drink more. And changeable symptoms, including moods. One minute you may be very emotional and weepy, then next you may be irritable.

This medicine is especially good for children, but not exclusively.

Aside from the usual viruses and infections common during this time of the year, the inhospitable climate and other factors can turn your nose into a lump of coal. Over the counter medications can help treat the symptoms and ease general discomfort caused by winter sinus problems. None of them will provide long term relief and many may actually cause more problems with extended use. Bottom line, use of these medications may or may not be any more effective than a few tried and true natural remedies safely used by millions every year.

By far the biggest culprit behind chronic winter sinus pain is the climate. The dry air outside in colder climates is nothing compared to the super dry air we encounter inside buildings with central heating systems. The longer a building remains closed with the heating system running, the dryer the air becomes. It is not uncommon for a buildings humidity levels in the winter to be 30% lower than they are during the remainder of the year.

Restoring the humidity in your home to more comfortable levels can be achieved in a variety of ways.

• One of the oldest and most effective methods is to simply boil a pot of water.

Regardless of the size of your home, boiling a pot of water every day can greatly increase humidity levels. An added benefit to this practice is the reduction of static electricity in the air unless you like being zapped every time you touch a door knob.

• Another natural method is the use of a humidifier.

If you’re already encountering sinus problems before going to sleep, you’ll usually wake up to find them much worse. While you sleep your sinuses continue to dry out from the super dry air and mucus becomes hard and in some cases painful and difficult to remove. Using a humidifier in your bedroom will prevent mucus from thickening while you sleep and will provide the soothing moisture your sinuses need to operate properly. Always be sure your humidifier is clean to prevent spreading mold into the air.

• The use of nasal sprays for some carries a certain stigma.

Honestly, sticking something into your nose and snorting is never going to be attractive no matter who you are. With that said, few things can provide immediate sinus relief like saline spray. So be discreet, but don’t write it off simply because it’s not as glamorous as taking a pill. Also keep in mind that there are medicated nasal sprays. Never confuse these as medicated sprays are not be used in the same fashion and can have significant side effects if used improperly.

• A final natural solution is the use of moisturizing gels.

These do not contain any medicines, but often have ingredients that may lead people to believe they do because of the smell and sensation they produce. A common ingredient is camphor, which many associate as a medicine smell. Camphor will produce a warm and tingly sensation inside the nose that will travel into the remainder of the sinuses. The benefit of gels is that their moisturizing properties tend to last longer than saline spray. This can be especially useful at night if you’re unable to utilize a humidifier.

Are there benefits to using natural remedies for your sinus problems versus just using over the counter medications? Absolutely and the first thing you’ll notice is the money you save. Second, all of these natural methods can be used be used by children or adults plus people currently taking other medications or undergoing medical treatment. Even if your sinus problems are viral, not environmental, these practices will still provide sinus relief without adding more chemicals to your ailing body.